Today has been filled with MOM – Mom Overcoming Mountains and Mom’s Outstanding Moments! She has had a great day and a good two days. She did end up having the CTA (CT with contrast dye in brain) just to make sure everything was still normal and PRAISE THE LORD – it was!!! The doctors believe the speech issues were caused by the medication they gave her to remain alert during the day. Needless to say, she is has not been on it for two days and she is a different person. Woo hoo!

Mom is steadily climbing and overcoming the mountains ahead of her. Her journey is providing her (and us) with some outstanding moments. 🙂 Today, Dad and I changed places. He is with mom and I am at home – my home away from home in Arkansas. Dad was able to witness some moments during her therapy sessions. She beat him in golf on the Wii. LOVE it! First, I love that they played the Wii. I wish I had been there to see it! Secondly, I LOVE she beat him!!! He called because he was so excited they got to play golf together. They also got to putt with a real putter and turf hole. I think they both had trouble. 🙂 These moments are priceless!!!! We thank God for them!

Mom also has a release date of early next week. We are waiting to hear if she can have her bone flap replaced before she leaves as well. The date may change if this is possible! God’s is moving mountains and Mom is climbing them. She will be home sweet home very soon! Thanks to each of you for all of your prayers. Your prayers are getting her up the steep inclines of this journey. She can feel them and so can we. We are so very thankful!

These are the outstanding moments that are drawing our family together. God is blessing us through this very difficult time. We are reminded daily we are so blessed to be where we are with mom. When we visit the rehabilitation gym each day, we see firsthand how blessed we are…tremendously! I also received sad news from a friend today. Her family had tragedy hit this week. In the midst of her struggles she reminded me, “we are all on our new journey that seems overwhelming at the time. Our only hope is in HIM and we have to cling to that!” I couldn’t have said it better…thanks friend! I love you and we are praying for you and your family!!!

God is our strength in times of trouble. He is are comforter. He is our father. He is our great physician and we are calling on Him to help us through this journey.

The pictures you see below are random photos from my parents’ home. One is purely to make mom and dad smile…they will get it when they see it. One is a mailbox. Mom is lookin’ toward the next mailbox minute by minute and day by day! She is MAKIN’ it to the next mailbox too! We are so proud of her strength, her faith, her determination and her gumption. She is such an inspiration.

We were talking about her humor through this ordeal today. It has become more pronounced along with her laughter and smiling. While talking about this over lunch she said, “we’ve gotta make it funny!” She has such a positive outlook. I have always loved my mom and dad beyond what words can describe and this new journey has shown me why – they both look for the good in ALL things! The love they have for one another is indescribable. They love God first and each other second and it is so very evident. God has them in His hands!!! We have and will continue to learn more about this love by watching them throughout this journey! So very blessed!

THE MAILBOX

“Just make it to the next mailbox!”

A mom and dad would say,

As they and their daughter

were out running one day.

They, knowing another mailbox lay ahead-

As she was ready to call it quits-

would push her to persevere instead.

With every mailbox successfully passed,

She made the victory lap to home at last.

To this day the message is still very clear…

Struggles will come and try to steal your cheer.

But as the mailboxes came and went…

She learned…

In the end the prize will be held dear for the endurance that was spent.

“Just make it to the next mailbox,” they would say.

What is your mailbox today?

written by Trish Newsom

The Taylor Family is aware of their current mailbox. How about you?

Anything is possible through the Strength of God

Philippians 4:13 NIVI can do everything through him who gives me strength

Through him the weak become strong

Isaiah 40:29 NIVHe gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak

Numbers 11:23 NIVThe Lord answered Moses ” Is the Lord’s arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you.”

Who is your source of Strength?

Psalm 18:32-34 NIVIt is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

Do not be afraid

Psalm 27:1 NIVThe Lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall i fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?

God will uphold you in his right hand

Isaiah 41:10 NIVSo do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand

God will not give you more than you can handle

1 Corinthians 10:13 NIVNo temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Lean on God and you will not be tired

Isaiah 40:31 NIVbut those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on the wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint

Love of God brings strength

Mark 12:30 NIVLove the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength

Oh my Tricia! YOU have just made me have tears again. Words cannot be found for me to tell you how I feel at this moment. I’ll just go on to bed and say my prayers. LYNMW, Dad PS-Does our pastor Eric get a copy of this or do I need to forward it to him?